1.1.Pam
and Cindy described preparations for Conversation Day, to be held Oct.
13th. The meeting will be historic in bringing together an unprecedented
number of Sinclair people to work on shared concerns.

1.2.Cindy
announced that Joe Tobias and Jeanne Lasko will participate in the Senate
meeting on Nov. 19th to discuss issues related to textbooks.
Steve Jonas and other members of the Health Care Committee will participate
in the Senate meeting of Oct. 22nd to discuss health care.

2.Minutes
from Sept. 24th, 2003

Marsha moved to approve the minutes with minor changes
as suggested by Jim. The motion passed. Fred distributed a CD to each Senator
and Senate Officer, and explained that it included the Faculty Handbook
in Word format as well as the minutes of the Senate meetings during 2001-02
and 2002-03. All the information is also on the Senate web site, but the
format
of the CD should make it easier for Senators to find and use the materials.

3.Proposal
to Change Handbook Section 2.4.5

Shari reviewed the reasons for her proposal, designated
as Senate Recommendation RCFA03-01. Item “10 e” in Handbook Section
2.4.5 now includes Special Adjuncts in the hierarchy of preference to be
used if necessary in preparing faculty schedules. Since the category of Special
Adjuncts is being phased out and since the position is intended only for
use when courses cannot be staffed with part-time faculty, Special Adjuncts
should not be listed as having priority over part-time faculty. The proposal
would delete the reference to Special Adjuncts. Shari reported that she had
discussed the proposal with the Executive Committee of Department Chairperson’s
Council (DCC). The Executive Committee supported the change and saw no need
to take it before the full DCC.

Jim, Susan, Nick and others spoke in favor of the proposal.
Fred also supported the proposal, but asked Senators to remember that the
hierarchy in item 10 e is only intended for use as a reference in exceptional
situations, not as a primary guideline.

Cindy made a motion to approve the recommendation and
Susan seconded. The motion passed.

Cindy distributed the changes to Handbook Section
2.10.1 (Attachment FSMA20031008-04A)
and Section 2.3.6 (Attachment FSMA20031008-04B).
Cindy explained that in May 2003 representatives of Title 6 and Title
9
programs
made
a site
visit to
Sinclair and identified problems with the current Sinclair statements
regarding equal opportunity. In accordance with their instructions,
Sinclair’s Board of Trustees added a statement to Handbook Section
2.10.1, specifying
the alternative procedures available when a grievance involves issues
related to equal opportunity. The Board also revised Section 2.3.6,
making changes that included the required identification of a specific
person
who is responsible for implementing the equal opportunity policy
at Sinclair. Since the changes were mandated by law, they can be
implemented immediately
without following the normal timing requirements for Handbook changes.

After discussion, Frank made a motion, “We
accept the changes to Sections 2.10.1 and 2.3.6; however, we are concerned
about the lack of consultation prior to Board action. We therefore direct
the Senate officers to discuss this consultation process with the administration.”
Ken seconded the motion. After further discussion, the motion passed.

5.Committee
Memberships

Pam expressed her thanks to faculty members
who have stated their interest in representing Senate on Committees that
do not require the Senate President’s personal participation. The workload
of the Senate President is extremely heavy, in part because the person
in that office is currently asked to serve as faculty representative on
a very large number of committees. The workload is heavy enough that burnout
has become a real concern both for past Presidents and for the current
President.

Many Senators expressed their agreement
that the committee workload needs to be distributed more broadly. Susan,
Shari and others expressed the view that the Senate representatives do
not always have to be Senators themselves, provided they report regularly
to Senate and obtain input from Senate. Marti expressed confidence that
faculty would be willing to participate in this role and asked that any
call for volunteers be as specific as possible regarding the responsibilities.

Pam and Cindy will consult with the heads
of the committees involved and identify those on which another faculty
representative could replace the Senate President.

Pam suggested that Senate also consider
expanding the work of its Personnel Committee and consider reestablishing
the Resource Committee. One important issue these committees might consider
is the College calendar. Several Senators agreed that faculty need to provide
more input to the calendar and felt that this is an appropriate time to
consider significant changes, both to the calendar itself and to the process
by which the annual calendar is set.

Pam noted that Forrest Cope has stepped
down as Chair of the Personnel Committee. As President, it is Pam’s responsibility
to appoint a new Chair and she asked for suggestions from the Senate. She
also suggested that the Resource Committee might be blended at least temporarily
with the Personnel Committee so more faculty could be engaged in the work
of reconsidering the calendar. The Resource Committee has not been active
in recent years, and Senate will need to solicit new members for that group.

Susan made a motion that the Personnel and
Resource Committees be blended and charged to look at the calendar. Cindy
seconded the motion. The motion passed.

6.Diversity
Committee Report

Deferred until Oct.
22.

7.Discussion
of the Retreat, held Sept. 26th

At the retreat, Faculty Senators met as
group during the morning, had lunch with Staff Senate and administrators,
and worked with administrators during the afternoon. Pam reported that
Staff Senate had expressed interest in meeting more extensively with Faculty
Senate to discuss shared concerns, and several Faculty Senators supported
that idea.

There was an extensive discussion about
the value of the retreat and about ways in which Senate can work more
effectively to move forward in cooperation with other groups. (See also
the list of "Rock" issues considered at the retreat, attachment FSMA20031008-07A.)

8.Open
Forum

8.1.Frank
asked that oatmeal cookies be provided at all future Senate meetings.

8.2.Pam
and Cindy asked that Senators identify specific “rocks” that might be Senate
priorities for action.

8.3.Cindy
distributed copies of Handbook Section 2.8.3, Professor Emeritus, and copies
of the “Professor Emeritus Guidelines” that are currently on the intranet.
She pointed out that the two documents are nearly identical but are different
in some ways. The intranet guidelines specify that the criteria to be selected
as Professor Emeritus include ten or more years of service to the College
that “will be completed in an instructional capacity.” The Handbook has
an additional phrase, “except in unusual circumstances.” Instructional
Council has asked Senate for guidance as to how the criteria should be
interpreted or perhaps changed. In particular, there are some Deans and
other administrators who retain their faculty status after becoming administrators.
For example, it is not clear if someone who retires as an administrator
but holding faculty status is eligible.